Replacement Of Natural Fine Aggregate With Granular Slag - A Waste Industrial By-Product In Cement Mortar Applications As An Alternative Construction Materials

The construction industry is the largest consumer of natural resources which led to depletion of good quality natural sand (Fine aggregates). This situation led us to explore alternative materials and granular slag a waste industrial byproduct is one such material identified for utilization it as replacement of natural sand. This paper highlights upon the feasibility study for the utilization of granular slag as replacement of natural fine aggregate in construction applications (Masonry & plastering). In this investigation, cement mortar mixes 1:3, 1:4, 1:5 & 1:6 by volume were selected for 0, 25, 50, 75 & 100% replacements of natural sand with granular slag for w/c ratios of 0.60, 0.65, 0.70 & 0.72 respectively. The study gave comparative results for mortar flow behaviors, compressive & split tensile strengths, brick mortar crushing & pulls strengths and their co-relations. The study comprises of The experimental results obtained show that partial substitution of ordinary sand by slag gives better results in both the applications i.e. masonry & plastering. The sand replacement from 50 to 75% improved mortar flow properties by 7%, the compressive strength improved by 11 to 15 % for the replacement level from 25 to 75%. At the same time brick mortar crushing & pull strengths improved by 10 to 13% at 50 to 75% replacement levels. The co-relation between mortar compressive/split tensile strengths & brick crushing/pull strengths shows linear dependencies on each others. The study concluded that granular could be utilized as alternative construction material for natural sand in masonry & plastering applications either partially or fully.